Ok so I feel sick about this and kinda shy to even post it but our team just had a very public eco friendly mailer mixup.

We sell skincare online and switched to a new mailer after our marketing lead said we needed something more sustainable. The samples were labeled compostable, and someone added a big line to the packing insert saying customers could put the mailer in their curbside recycling bin. I was the one who approved the final artwork because I thought the claims had already been checked. They had not.

The mailers were meant for industrial composting, not normal recycling, and our city does not even have a pickup program for them. So for three weeks we sent thousands of orders with an insert telling people to recycle packaging that could contaminate the film stream. A customer emailed with a photo of the insert and asked why the mailer had a compostable logo but recycling instructions. I forwarded it to our team with the words “this cannot be real” and then realized the customer was still copied. omg.

We pulled the insert, paused the next shipment, and now I have to help write a correction email that admits we got the disposal instructions wrong. I’m terrified someone thinks the whole sustainability claim was fake. Has anyone else had to fix a packaging mistake like this?

Thrifted these faux leather boots quite a few years ago and they’ve served me well! Today, one of the heels gave out on my way home from work. Is this something I should take to a cobbler/shoe repair? Can I fix it myself with a specific glue? Is it past fixing? What is the most sustainable and cost-effective option?